Direct Stream no longer working with AppleTV app

Plex Players Streaming Devices
1

Server Version#: 1.28.2.6151
Player Version#: 8.9 (3900)

Since updating the AppleTV app, the application will not direct stream any HEVC content.
This is only broken since the update. Direct Play still works.

2

What container are you starting with that needs to be remuxed?

3

mkv files

4

mkv + hevc + ac3 audio direct plays on my atv4k gen 2 running plex v8.9.

what audio is in your mkv + hevc media?

5

That’s the point… it direct plays, but won’t direct stream. This worked before.

6

Out of curiosity why would you want it to direct stream rather than direct play?

7

My Apple TV struggles to direct play certain files, where as direct stream for those exact files has always worked. So, prior to this update, I have direct play off for that reason.

8

Are you using the new or the old player?
And does it happen with both players?

9

I am using the new player. The old player won’t even play these files. They are 1080p or 4K HDR HEVC files.

10

“They are 1080p or 4K HDR HEVC” in mkv you said, but what audio is in those source files? AC3? AAC? Atmos? (Let’s just choose one film as an example so people can experiment with that type of file to help you solve your topic.) Pick one with only one audio track and no subs.

Assuming we know the audio, let’s dig deeper:

Okay so you have a film that doesn’t Direct Play well for whatever reason, and so you disabled Direct Play, thereby making it playable only by Direct Stream or by Transcode. That’s a valid choice, and though it might not be mine, let’s try to help you.

Let’s examine what it means to disable Direct Play, to be sure we are all on the same page. A Plex server trying to display a movie can Direct Play a file, or it can Direct Stream a file, or it can Transcode a file.

You’re forcing either:

  • Direct Stream: The video stream and audio streams are both playable by the Player and TV and will not be changed at all, but the container housing those will be changed from mkv to another that supports the video stream, the audio stream, the player, and the TV, let’s say mp4.
  • Transcode: The video stream and/or the audio stream will be re-encoded to whatever Plex chooses based on what your Player and TV support, then those will be packaged into whatever container Plex chooses.

Which do you want to force if you have a preference?

Which was it doing before? Can you describe what the result file specs were?

What is it doing now? Can you describe what the result file specs are (e.g mp4 x264 opus).

1 Like
11

To add to what nibbles asked, can you also mention which model of Apple TV 4K you have.

I use Infuse mostly but I actually did a little testing today to try and help troubleshoot.

I have zero issues with any 1080p with any audio codec.

I have zero issues with any 4K hevc/x265 HDR with any Audio codec.

I did however just notice that Plex isn’t handling Profile5 DV that well. (Audio plays but just a spinner for the video.)

12

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.